Higher Sewer Bills Coming

City Council Passes Rate Increases Of 25 Percent Over Two Years

Bentonville residents will see their sewer bills jump by 25 percent in the next two years after the City Council voted 5-3 to raise wastewater rates at Tuesday’s meeting.

At A Glance

Bill Increases

Bentonville residents will start seeing their wastewater bills increase in March. The initial 15 percent increase will change their facility charge from $10.60 to $12.19. Consumption costs will rise from $6.08 per 1,000 gallons to $6.99 per 1,000 gallons.

A 10 percent increase will follow in January 2014. That increase will raise facility charges to $13.41 and consumption costs to $7.69 per 1,000 gallons. The average household uses about 4,500 gallons a month, according to HDR Engineering.

Obviously, the City of Bentonville does not want reirees and people on fixed incomes to be part of their city as the cost of the municipal services far outweigh the value provided. When people start moving out of the city, maybe the council and the mayor will realize that not everyone who lives in the city can afford these rediculous increases.